Sekvantoj

Friday, 27 March 2009

“Kontraŭgaelaj Zelotoj”

A Caithness councillor has hit out at a claim that local representatives who are to meet with Bòrd na Gàidhlig on the controversial issue of bilingual signs will be "a carefully selected body of anti-Gaelic zealots".

Thurso Highland councillor John Rosie took issue with an editorial in the West Highland Free Press which attacked him and his fellow Caithness councillors over their opposition to Gaelic and English being used on road and other signs.

Mr Rosie was instrumental in getting Bòrd na Gàidhlig to agree to come north to meet with six local historians for "a reasonable and intelligent discussion" to try and resolve the issues about bilingual signs and other matters.

He was also successful in getting the local authority to review its Gaelic plan and to ensure the Gaelic budget is subject to the same scrutiny as every other budget.

Mr Rosie's move was attacked by the Skye-based weekly paper. In an editorial it accused the councillors and other people in the North of working themselves "into a lather" about Highland Council's bilingual road signs.

"They claim that Gaelic is not wanted in Caithness and that Caithness should be allowed to opt out of bilingual signage," stated the editorial. The paper maintained the issue amounts to "nothing more than the addition of some Gaelic place names to most English language road signs" and argued that the councillors are anti-Gaelic.”…